Refrigerating apparatus



Nov. 18,1930, ELBARN ES i 1,782,189-

' REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 92 2 Sheets-Shut 1 70 COMPRESSOR FROM commas Nov. 18, 1930. E. L. BARNES REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 15 1928 2 SheetS-Sheet 2 m F/G.2. I m

//Vl A 7'0/? ham [$5.- B a fzzyerze a an? I Patented Nov. 18, 1 930 ymrao STATES- PATENT OFFICE Evelina L. BARNES, OFBUFIALO, NEW YORK REFRIGERATING arrana'rus Application filed February 15, 1928. Serial No. 254,386.

My-invention relates to an improvement in refrigerating apparatus and more particularly to means for effecting the removal of lubricant from the refrigerant chamber of such apparatus.

In refrigerating apparatus, of the character to which my invention more particularly relates and which comprises generally speaking a compressor for the refrigerant and a boiler or evaporator inassociation with a chamber into which the compressed refrigerant is delivered by the compressor, it has been found 'that lubricant necessary to the operation of the compressor is delivered by the compressor into the refrigerant chamber and since ,the lubricant will not evaporate, as does the refrigerant, such lubricant as is delivered to the refrigerant chamber is lost to the compressor and accumulates undesirably in the refrigerant chamber and boiler.-

The tendency of lubricant to accumulate in the refrigerant chamber of refrigerating apparatus has militated against'the use of petroleum oil as a lubricant, especially where ethyl chloride, which forms a desirable and efiicient refrigerant, is used, since petroleum oil and ethyl chloride will form a solution and since ethyl chloride ,is being continuously evaporated in the refrigerant chamber an undesirable concentration of lubricant will result.

Now, in accordance with my invention I provide means for removing lubricant from the refrigerant chamber of refrigerating apparatus of a simple and inexpensive character "and which will operate to prevent accumulation of lubricant in the chamber. and maine tain the concentration thereof in the refrigerant at a minimum and at'the same time enable the return oflubricant removed from the refrigerant chamber to the compressor.

Having now indicated in. general way the nature and purpose of my invention, I will proceed to a detailed description of a premy invention.

erant is withdrawn under the influence ferred embodiment thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a view, partly broken away, of a refrigerant chamber and boiler embodying Figure 2 is a rear view, partly in section, of the subject of Figure 1. N

, Figure 3 is a view showing a detail of construction.

In the drawings a indicates a refrigerantchamber, of anyusual construction, rovided with a supply conduit 6, one end 0 which communicates with a conduit 0 through which liquid refrigerant is supplied by a compressor (not shown) and the other end of which is provided with an outlet opening controlled by a valve indicated at d, the opera. tion of which is effected through the medium of-a float e to which it is connected by means of a lever f,the arrangement being such that liquid refrigerant will be maintained in the chamber substantially at a level indicated by the broken line g.

a Within the chamber a ispositioned a sump near the bottom thereof and is connected to a conduit 7', through which vaporized refrigof the compressor.-

Supported by the sump h is a U-shaped tube 70, one leg of which extends into the sump to a point adjacent the end of tube 2' and the other leg, of which extends outside of the sump into the liquidrefri erant. The tube is so arranged that its en s are at the same level. The tube k is of relatively small internal diameter and is loaded with a wick, for example, of wool, as shown at m, Figure 1, or formed from a number of very small .duits o, to enable the return of vaporized refrigerant to the chamber, and the lower headers are connected to the lower part of the chamber a by means ofconduits p to enable the supply of liquid refrigerant to the boiler from the chamber. Between the sets of vertical tubes 11. a casing 0 having a door 1' is provided for the reception of the usual ice trays s.

In the operation of the apparatus liquid refrigerant is supplied to the chamber a. by a compressor and fills the headers hi and tubes at to a level determined by the float e. The. liquid refrigerant in extracting heat from the atmosphere surrounding the boiler vapor-izcs and the vapor passes from the uppzr headers m to the upper portion of chamr a. vaporization of' the, refrigerant results in a lowering of the level of liquid refrigerant in chamber a and as the float e drops, the valve d is opened and further iqluid refrigerant is supplied to the chamber, W ile at the same time vaporized refrigerant is withdrawn from the chamber through sump h, and conduit 2'. During the o eration of the compressor, as when liquid re rigerant is supplied to chamher a and vaporized refrigerant is withdrawn therefrom, the wick in tube in acts by capillary action to transfer liquid refrigerant dro by drop from the chamber to the sump rom which it is withdrawn by the compressor through conduit 2'. The capillary action of the wick in tube k will continue during operation of the compressor and after the compressoris stopped until the level of liquid, refrigerant in the sump reaches that of, the liquid refrigerant in the chamber. \Vhen the compressor is restarted after a period of inactivity the relatively small amount of liquid refrigerant which. may have collected in the sump will be drawn out through conduit '5 and will flash into as before reaching the compressor, as will the liquid refrigerant eu-. tering the sump through tube [(3 during the continued operation of the compressor.

' The li \lld refrigerant transferred from the cham er a into the sump and withdrawn therefrom by the compressor will contain lubricant contained in the liquid refrigerant, which lubricant will be withdrawn from the sump with the liquid refri erant, then separated therefromvon its fias ing into gas and finally will be returned to the compressor.

Through the transfer of liquid refrigerant from the chalnber a to the sump through tube 7: there will be a complete change of liquid refrigerant in the chamber a and boiler periodically and the apparatus may. be desirably so designed and proportioned that a complete change of, refrigerant will be eti'ected about every forty-eight hours, though it will be understood that the apparatus may be readily designed so that the change will be effected. in any other desired period of time.

It will now be noted that through the withdrawal of liquid refrigerant and lubricant from the chamber a accumulation of lubricant in the chamber and boiler is avoidedand lubricant which would be lost to the ('()l\l pressor is returned thereto.

It will be understood that my invention may be adapted to other forms of refrigerating apparatus than that described herein.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is 1. In a refrigerating apparatus, in combination, a refrigerant chamber, means for maintaining liquid refrigerant in said chambcr,'a sump within said chamber extending below the level of liquid refrigerant therein, a vapor discharge conduit extending into saidsump and means extending beneath the level of refrigerant in said chamber and into said sump whereby liquid refrigerant is transferred-from said chamber into said sump by capillary action.

2. In a refrigerating apparatus, in combination, a refrigerant chamber. means for maintaining liquid refrigerant in said chamber, a sump within said chamber extending below the level of liquid refrigerant therein, a vapor discharge conduit extending into said sump, a tube. one end of which is positioned within said sump and the other end of which is positioned below the level of refrigerant in said chamber and a wick within said tube.

3; In a refrigerating apparatus, in combination, a refrigerant chamber, means for maintaining liquid refrigerant in said chamber, a sump within said chamber.cxtending below the level of liquid refrigerant therein. a vapor discharge conduit: extending into said sump. a tube, one end of which is positioned within said sump and the other end of which is positioned below the level of refrigerant in said chamber. said tube being! arranged with its ends at thesame level. and a. Wick within said tube.

4.'In a refrigerating apparatus, in combination, a refrigerant chamber, means for maintaining liquid refrigerant in said chamber, a sump' within said chamber extending 'below the level of liquid refrigerant therein, avapor discharge conduit extending into said sump, a U tube positioned to extend within said sump and beneath the level of III , rcfrigerm'lt in said chamber and a wick within said tube.

5.111 a refrigerating apparatus, 111 combination, a refrlgerant chamber, means for maintaining liquid refrigerant in said chamsaid chamber extending her, a sump within below the level of liquid refrigerant therein, a vapor discharge conduit extending into said sump, a U tube positioned to extend within said sump and beneath he level of refrigerant in said chamber and a wick' formed by a plurality of fine W1res withm said tube.

In testimony of which invention, I have hereunto set my hand, at Bufialo, New York, on this seventh day of February, 1928.

EUGENE L. BARNES. 

